Control device for tabulation printing

ABSTRACT

A control device for tabulation printing which comprises a tabset register for storing a plurality of tabset position signals defining the columns of a printing sheet in which tabulation printing is to be effected; a memory device for storing a signal denoting the lower order tabset position of a printing column by reading out the tabset position signal from the tabset register and further storing a signal representing the position in which the highest order of a printing data is to be recorded, with reference to the aforesaid restored tabset position signal; a discriminator for generating a first output signal where a printing data only consists of digits and a second output signal where a printing data includes at least a character; and a control device for causing the lowest order of a data consisting of digits alone to be printed on the lower order tabset position side of a printing column according to the aforesaid first output signal and an output signal from the memory device for storing the printing position of the highest order of the printing data and for causing the highest order of a data including at least a character to be recorded on the higher order tabset position side of a printing column according to the aforesaid second output signal.

United States Patent Suzuki May 27, 1975 [75] Inventor: Masahiko Suzuki,Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 422,550

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 13, 1972 Japan 47-124407[52] US. Cl 197/176; 197/19 [51] Int. Cl B41j 25/18 [58] Field of Search197/176, 177, 178, 179,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,537 11/1962 Allen197/176 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,176,441 l/l970 UnitedKingdom 197/176 OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin,Electronic Tab/- Backspace Control, Fulbright et al., Vol. 13, No. 10,

March, 1971, pp. 3182-3184.

TABSET CONTROL REGISTER PRINTING CONTROL IV Ill 11 S14 PRINTING PrimaryExaminerErnest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmFlynn & Frishauf[57] ABSTRACT A control device for tabulation printing which comprises atabset register for storing a plurality of tabset position signalsdefining the columns of a printing sheet in which tabulation printing isto be effected; a memory device for storing a signal denoting the lowerorder tabset position of a printing column by reading out the tabsetposition signal from the tabset register and further storing a signalrepresenting the position in which the highest order of a printing datais to be recorded, with reference to the aforesaid restored tabsetposition signal; a discriminator for generating a first output signalwhere a printing data only consists of digits and a second output signalwhere a printing data includes at least a character; and a controldevice for causing the lowest order of a data consisting of digits aloneto be printed on the lower order tabset po sition side of a printingcolumn according to the aforesaid first output signal and an outputsignal from the memory device for storing the printing position of thehighest order of the printing data and for causing the highest order ofa data including at least a character to be recorded on the higher ordertabset position side of a printing'column according to the aforesaidsecond output signal.

1 Claim, 15 Drawing Figures s TABSET HF 22 REGISTER o R PRINTING 4,POSITION REGISTER ,7,

0 2 sea 5 2 O R Lu T F/F; 45 KEYBOARD I S2(TABSET SPACE) E'SII'ISOSISIDATA COMMON) 57(DATAI sI2(TAB OPERATION) s4 59 I? 840 oIscRII.-.I JE z NATOR a 9 z 39 5 a 5 $10 a. gE-i I12 [1' I-S 0 mg m 8' 0 ms 5 2 5%e2 23 F2 is as s BUFFER 8 ,9]; 2%]; S; REGISTER CLO. n on: 5 Q

I (I) FOREMOSMSZ ssb $6 $5 V ORDER READ OUT 33 PRINTING SECTION 2 PfNTEB MAY 2 7 i975 FIG. A

/F.F 25 I 29 28 26 TABSET DELAY CONTROL REGISTER fi m 30 PRINTINGCONTROL j a e J I I 1y III 11 R Q s Q P 37 s13 HOLDING CIRCUIT814(PRINTING COMPLETION) SHEET I iliD 42 FIG. 2A

KEYBOARD DETECTOR Q SH 6TH BIT AND 40 sio 0 O ||1 O 0 III .1 O 0 Ill 0.1 III O 0 III 1 0 III 1| 0 O ||l O 0 .1 .0 0 Ill 0 O .1 0 I1 lllll (I Olllll 1 0 Il|.9 R w m (it R o m M m H M C T B A E C H R A C ER R L U AADn Um H mo NF C RE mm M NF D/EF CONTROL DEVICE FOR TABULATION PRINTINGThis invention relates to improvements on a control device fortabulation printing and more particularly to a control device forcausing the lowest order of data consisting of digits alone to beprinted on the lower order tabset position side of a printing column ona tabulated sheet and also causing the highest order of a data includingat least a' character to be recorded on the higher order tabset positionside of a printing column.

Where a data consisting of digits alone or a data including at least acharacter (in this invention, a data including at least a characterincludes a data consisting of characters alone and is called ascharactercontaining data) is printed in a designated column on atabulation printing sheet, for example, a tabulated bill, by means of anelectronic calculator, then tabset positions defining the columns of atabulated bill are first stored in a memory device. The higher ordertabset position (later described) of a column requiring printing isselected by designating the address of an input data being printed. Aprinting head is driven up to the selected tabset position, and theaforesaid input data begins to be printed in the designated column withthe highest order of said data disposed on the higher order tabsetposition side of said column. Where a plurality of data being printed ina'given column are charactercontaining data as previously defined, thenit is desired that printing be so made as to cause the highest orderindications of these data to be vertically aligned. Where, however, thehighest order indications of a plurality of data consisting of digitsalone are printed in vertical alignment, then great difficulties will bepresented in judging the arithmetical order of said highest order digits(namely, whether said digits represent the order of thousands, hundredsor tens) and consequently arithmetically calculating all these data.Though it is preferred, as described above, vertically to align thosedigits included in a plurality of digital data being printed in adesignated column which assume the same order, yet a control device forattaining this arrangement should be of simple construction and capableof easy reliable operation.

It is accordingly the object of this invention to provide a tabulationprinting control device of simple construction and capable of easyreliable operation which causes the lowest order digits of a pluralityof digital data to be recorded on the lower tabset position side of adesignated column and also causes the highest order indications of aplurality of character-containing data to be recorded on the highertabset position side of said column.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The control device of this invention comprisesan input means of a printing data; a memory device for temporarilystoring a printing data delivered from the input means; a printing meansfor printing the temporarily stored data in the designated column of aprinting sheet; a tabset register for storing a plurality of tabsetposition signals defining the columns of the printing sheet; adiscriminator for generating a first signal Where the printing dataconsists of digits alone and a second signal where the printing dataincludes at least a character; a means for reading out a signal denotingthe lower order tabset position of the designated column from the tabsetregister and generating a signal specifying the position in which thehighest order indication of the temporarily stored data is to beprinted, with reference to the read out signal and a signalcorresponding to the number of orders of the printing data; firstcontrol means for controlling the printing means with reference to thefirst signal and a signal designating the printing position of thehighest order such that where the input data consists of digits alone,the highest order digit is printed in the foremost printing position ofthe designated column of the printing sheet and the lowest order digitin the lower tabset position side of the column; and second controlmeans for controlling the printing means with reference to the secondoutput signal such that where the input data includes at least acharacter, the printing of the data is commenced from the higher tabsetposition side of the designated column of the printing sheet.

The control device of this invention automatically attains requiredprinting by very simple operations of, for example, storing tabsetsignals in the tabset register, supplying printing data and judging by adiscriminator whether the printing data consists of digits alone or thepreviously defined character-containing type, thereby eliminating theaforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by simple construction andeasy, reliable control of printing.

According to the present control device, the characters of thecharacter-containing data" are indicated in the same order positions asthe digits of a data consist- This invention can be more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B together are a block circuit diagram of a tabulationprinting control device according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2A shows the arrangement of an embodiment of a discriminator;

FIG. 2B is a table of coded numerical figures and charactersconstituting printing data supplied to the discriminator;

FIG. 2C is a detailed diagram of the printing control circuit of FIGS.1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 illustrates a tabulated bill in which printing was made using thecontrol device of the invention; and

FIGS. 4A-4I show the manner in which the registers in FIGS. 1A and 1Bare stored with signals when data are printed in the tabulated bill ofFIG. 3.

The control device of FIGS. 1A and 1B comprises a keyboard 10 forsupplying a printing data; a buffer register 11 for temporarily storingthe supplied printing data; a printing section 12 for printing the dataread out from the buffer register 11 on a printing sheet, for example, atabulated bill (now shown); a tabset register 13; a printing positionregister 14 for storing the extent of printing carried out by theprinting section 12; a tabset control register 15 and a discriminator 16all arranged in the later described relationship. The tabset register 13is stored with a plurality of tabset position signals defining therespective printing columns of a tabulated bill, namely, a number ofbits, for example, bits at maximum, as shown in FIG. 4A, correspondingto the number of printed indications or digits and/or charactersconstituting one horizontal line of printing carried out by the printingsection 12. The

3 printing position register 14 is interlockingly operated with thetabset register 13 and has the same storing capacity as the latter. Bothregisters 13 and 14 consist of, for example, shift registers actuated insynchronous relationship and respectively have a cyclic shiftingcircuit. An output signal from the printing position register 14 issupplied to an AND circuit 17, together with a tabset position selectingsignal S1 delivered from the keyboard 10. An output signal from the ANDcircuit 17 is conducted to the tabset register 13 through an OR circuit18. A tabset space signal S2 obtained from the keyboard is supplied as ashiftup signal 53a to the printing position register 14 through an ORcircuit 19, an output signal from which in turn is supplied to theprinting section 12 as a printing position-advancing signal (or steppingsignal) S3b. A carriage return signal S4 delivered from the keyboard 10is transmitted to the printing position register 14 as a carriage returnsignal 34a for shifting down the bits stored therein, and also to theprinting section 12 as a carriage return instruction signal 84b. As theresult, the printing section 12 gives forth a carriage return end signal(or a carriage return completion signal) S5 corresponding to thecarriage return instruction signal S4b, said carriage return end signalSS being delivered to the set terminal S of a flip-flop circuit 20.Output signals from the registers 13 and 14 are carried to an ANDcircuit 21. Where both output signals coincide with each other, said ANDcircuit 21 generates an output signal which in turn is transmitted tothe reset terminal R of the flip-flop circuit to reset it. An output setsignal from the flipflop circuit 20 is supplied to the OR circuit 19.

Output signals from the tabset register 13 and printing positionregister 14 are delivered to an AND circuit 22, an output signal fromwhich is supplied to the set terminal S of a flip-flop circuit 23, anoutput set signal from which is carried to a delay circuit 24 consistingof a delayed flip-flop circuit for delaying said set signal for one bitshift time, for example, of the tabset register 13. An output signalfrom the delay circuit 24 is transmitted to an AND circuit 25 togetherwith the succeeding output signal from the tabset register 13. An outputsignal from the AND circuit 25 is conducted to the reset terminal R ofthe flip-flop circuit 23, as well as to one input terminal of an ANDcircuit 26, to the other input terminal of which a signal S6 denotingthe detection of the stop of the printing head after the carriage returnis supplied as a gate signal from the printing section 12 through an ORcircuit 27. An output signal from the AND circuit 26 is delivered to theinput terminal of the tabset control register 15 through an OR circuit28. The tabset control register 15 consists of a shift register capableof storing as many orders as the tabset register 13. A one-bit delaycircuit 29, AND circuit and OR circuit 28 jointly constitute a cyclicshifting circuit. An output signal from the OR circuit 27 is carried asa gate signal to one inputterminal of the AND circuit 30 through aninverter 31. A signal S7 denoting a printing data is supplied from thekeyboard 10 to the buffer register 11 to be temporarily stored therein.The buffer register 11 is provided with a readout circuit 32 for readingout the foremost order of the temporarily stored data. A data read outby said readout circuit 32 is conducted as a printing data to theprinting section 12 through an AND circuit 33. Said foremost orderreadout circuit 32 may be formed by the known process. This process isalready set forth in FIGS. 1 and 2 appended to the US. Pat. No.3,351,917 entitled Information storage and retrieval system having adynamic memory device.

An input data signal S7 is also supplied to the discriminator 16 whichgenerates a first signal S9 where an input data consists of digits aloneand a second signal S10 where the input data is the charactercontainingtype. This discriminator 16 consists, as

showh in FIG. 2A, of a bit detecting circuit 34 which produces a signalS11 when it is detected that thebit of any of the particular orders ofan input data denotes l (the discriminator 16 is suppliedwith an inputdata signal S7 represented by the codes of, for example,

'FIG. 2B) and a flip-flop circuit 35 which produces a second output setsignal S10 from said signal S11 and is reset by the later describedsignal S14 denoting the completion of printing. FIG. 2B illustratesnumerical figures and characters represented by bits supplied to the bitdetecting circuit 34. Where the bits collectively represent a numeral,then both fifth and sixth bits of the aforesaid particular ordersrepresent 0 and the flip-flop circuit 35 remains in a reset condition,namely, the first signal S9 denotes I. Where the bits collectively showsa character, then at least one of the fifth and sixth bits,

indicates l, and the flip-flop-circuit 35 is brought into a setcondition, namely, the second signal S10 shows 1.

A tab operation signal S12 obtained by the operation of the keyboard 10gives a control instruction to a printing control circuit 36. Thedetailed arrangement of this printing control circuit 36 is indicated inFIG. 2C. When a tab operation signal S12 is supplied to a delayflip-flop circuit 361, then the printing control circuit 36 gives forthan output signal], which in. turn is conducted to an AND circuit 37together with the first output signal S9 from the discriminator 16. Anoutput signal from the AND circuit 37 is transmitted to the set terminalS of a flip-flop circuit 38 to set it. This flip-flop circuit 38 isreset by an output signal delivered from an AND circuit 47 whencoincidence takes place between output signals from the printingposition register 14 and.

tabset control register 15. An output set signal from the flip-flopcircuit 38 is supplied as a shiftup signal 53a, to the printing positionregister 14 and as a printing position-advancing signal S312 to theprinting section 12 through the OR circuits 39 and 19.

The output signal I from the printing control circuit,

36 is conducted to the input terminal of the AND circuit 40 togetherwith the second signal S10from the discriminator 16. An output signalfrom the AND circuit 40 is supplied as a shiftup signal 830 to theprinting position register 14 and as a printing positionadvancing signal83b to the printing section 12.

The OR circuit 362 included in the printing control circuit 36 issupplied with an output reset signal from the flip-flop circuit 38 andoutput signals from the aforesaid AND circuit 40 and the later describedAND circuit 41. Among the above-mentioned output signals, an outputsignal from the flip-flop circuit 38is passed through the indicated headportion extraction circuit to I have its head portion alone supplied tothe OR circuit 362. This head portion extraction circuit consists of anAND circuit 365 having one input terminal supplied with an output resetsignal from the flip-flop circuit 38 and the other input terminalsupplied with a signal produced by delaying said output reset signal ina delay cir-. cuit 363 and thereafter passing it through an inverter364. When an output signal from the OR circuit 362 is delivered to adelayed flip-flop circuit 366, an output signal II is given forththerefrom in succession to the output signal I, and transmitted as agate signal to the input terminal of the AND circuit 33. When an outputsignal from the delayed flip-flop circuit 366 passes through a delayedflip-flop circuit 367, an output signal III is generated from the lattercircuit 367 in succession to the output signalll, and conducted to theinput terminal of the OR circuit 39. When an output signal from thedelayed flip-flop circuit 367 is conducted through a delayed flip-flopcircuit 368, an output signal IV is produced from the latter circuit 368in succession to the output signal III. The output signal IV isdelivered to the input terminals of the AND circuits 41 and 42. Asapparent from FIG. 2C, the printing control circuit 36 generates theoutput signals II, III and IV in succession, each time said circuit 36is supplied with an output signal S13 from the AND circuit 41. An outputsignal from the AND circuit 42 is supplied to the OR circuit 27 as aprinting end signal S14 and also to the discriminator 16 as a resetsignal. One input terminal of the AND circuit 41 is supplied with anoutput signal from a holding circuit 43 through an inverter 44 and oneinput terminal of the AND circuit 42 is directly supplied with the sameoutput of the holding circuit 43. This holding circuit 43 holds anoutput signal from the delay circuit 24, until the stored data iscleared, for example, by a shift end pulse delivered per shift cycle inthe tabset register 13.

When a printing data signal is given forth upon depression of a key onthe keyboard 10, a data common signal S15 is supplied as a gate signalto one input terminal of an AND circuit 46 with its timing controlled bya timing control circuit 45 during one shift cycle in the tabset controlregister 15. The other input terminal of the AND circuit 46 is suppliedwith an output signal from the tabset control register 15. An outputsignal from the AND circuit 46 is transmitted to the input side of thetabset control register 15 through the OR circuit 28, in which,therefore, a quick cyclic shifting circuit is formed.

There willnow be described the manner in which tabulation printing iscarried out using the control device of this invention arranged asdescribed above. First, the tabset register 13 is stored, as in FIG. 4A,with signals denoting, for example, tabset positions 10, 20 80 in thetabulated bill of FIG. 3. These tabset positions are stored in thetabset register 13 by operation of the tabset space key and tabsetposition-selecting key on the keyboard 10. Key depression generates atabset space signal S2, which in turn is supplied as a printingposition-advancing signal 83b to the printing section 12 through the ORcircuit 19 so as to shift the printing position to the right side andalso as the shiftup signal S3a which causes the bit stored in theforemost position in the printing position register 14 to be carried tothe indicated right side (FIG. 4B). The bit stored in the printingposition register 14 and the printing position are always carried alongin synchronization, so that the position of the stored bit occupies anorder corresponding to the printing position. Where the tabset register13 isto be stored with a tabset position signal corresponding to, forexample, the tabset position in a tabulated bill, then the printing headis pushed forward to said tabset position 10 by the tabset space signalS2, namely, the printing positionadvancing signal S3b. Under thiscondition, the tabset position-selecting signal S1 is supplied as a gatesignal to the AND circuit 17. As simultaneous cyclic shifting takesplace in the tabset register 13 and printing position register 14 andalso a bit is stored in the tabset position 10 of the printing register14, the position 10 in the printing position register 14 is written witha bit in the tabset register 13 as the tabset position 10. When thetabset space operation and tabset selecting operation are conductedwhile defining the printing position with reference to the tabsetpositions in the tabulated bill of FIG. 3 in the same manner, then aplurality of tabset position signals defining the respective columns ofthe tabulated bill are stored in the tabset register 13, as illustratedin FIG. 4A. 7

When the tabset positions of FIG. 4A have been set in the tabsetregister 13, data is printed in the respective columns of the tabulatedbill of FIG. 3. Now let it be assumed that a number 145 is going to beprinted in the foremost column C1 defined between the tabset positions10 and 20. In this case, a carriage return signal S4 is first generatedby operation of the corresponding key on the keyboard 10. The printinghead is brought back to the foremost position (the indicated extremeleft or zero position) by the carriage return instruction signal 841),and the position of the bit stored in the printing position register 14is carried backward to its zero position. When the carriage returnsignal S4 is given forth, the printing section 12 is subjected tocarriage return and generates a carriage return end signal S5. Since theflip-flop circuit 20 is set by the carriage return end signal S5, theprinting position register 14 is supplied with a shiftup signal 83athrough the OR circuit 19. The printing section 12 is also supplied witha printing position step up signal 83b for advancing the printing headto the right. As the result, the printing head and the bit stored in theprinting position register 14 are shifted through the same number oforders. When the printing head travels to the right until the bit storedin the printing position register 14 is brought to the positioncorresponding to the tabset position 10 in the tabset register 13, thenthe AND circuits 21 and 22 generate an output signal. An output signalfrom the AND circuit 21 resets the flip-flop circuit 20 to stop therightward advance of the printing head, while an output signal from theAND circuit 22 sets the flip-flop circuit 23. An output signal from theflip-flop circuit 23 thus set is delayed by a one-bit shifting time andsupplied as a gate signal to the AND circuit 25. When the AND circuit 25is supplied with a signal denoting the tabset position 20 in successionto a signal representing the tabset position 10 in the tabset register13 (an output signal causing the flip-flop circuit to be set), an outputsignal from the delay circuit 24 is delivered to the AND circuit 25,which in turn generates an output signal. One input terminal of the ANDcircuit 26 is already supplied with a signal S6 generated by theprinting section 12 when the printing head is brought to rest aftercarriage return. When, therefore, the other input terminal of the ANDcircuit 26 is supplied with an output signal from the AND circuit 25,then the AND circuit 26 gives forth an output signal which denotes thetabset position 20 in the tabset register 13. Said output signaldenoting the tabset position 20 is written in the tabset controlregister 15, while data stored therein is extinguished by an outputsignal from the inverter 31 (FIG. 4C). As seen from FIG. 4A, theforemost or extreme left column C1 is defined between the higher ordertabset position 10 and the lower order tabset position 20, thesucceeding column C2 between the higher order tabset position 20 and thelower order tabset position 30 and so forth. I

Where a number 145 is going to be printed in the foremost column C1, thesubject control device is supplied with a printing data signal S7denoting a number 145 through key depression on the keyboard 10. Saiddata signal S7 is stored in the output buffer register 11,

1 and a data common signal S15 corresponding to the number of ordersincluded in the printing data is supplied as a gate signal to the ANDcircuit 46 through the timing control circuit 45, causing a quick cyclicshifting circuit free from the delay circuit 29 to be formed in thetabset control register 15. A plurality of bits representing the threeorders of the printing data 145 are recorded ahead of the bit denotingthe tabset position 20 which was previously stored through the ANDcircuit 26, thus displaying the stored condition of FIG. 4D. When thefirst digit 1 of the printing data 145 is printed in the foremost one ofthe stored bits, then the last digit 5 of said data 145 is impressed onthe side of the lower tabset position 20 in the first column C1.

There will now be described the manner in which concrete printing isprogressively carried out. The printing data signal S7 is conducted tothe discriminator 16 indicated in FIG. 2A. Where said signal S7 denotesa numerical data as shown in FIG. 2B, the bits of the fifth and sixthorders are 0 and consequently a signal $11 from the bit-detectingcircuit 34 also indicates 0. Accordingly, the flip-flop circuit 35 resetby the printing end signal or printing completion signal S14 gives fortha reset signal S9 of 1. When a signal S12 is generated by tab operationin the keyboard 10 after the input operation of data 145, a signal I isfirst delivered from the printing control circuit 36. This signal I setsthe flip-flop circuit 38, an output set signal from which is transmittedto the printing section 12 as a printing head-advancing signal 83b andalso to the printing position register 14 as a shiftup signal S3a.

When the printing head, as well as the bit stored in the printingposition register 14, advances to the right, then the position of saidbit in the printing position register 14 and that of the foremost one ofa plurality of bits stored in the tabset control register 15 coincidewith each other. At the time of said coincidence, the AND circuit 45produces an output signal to reset the flip-flop circuit 38, therebystopping the rightward advance of the printing head and the rightwardshifting in the printing position register 14. As the result, theprinting head is set at the foremost one of the bits (FIG. 4D) stored inthe tabset control register 15, namely, at the point where the firstdigit 1 of the numerical data 145 is to be printed. The position of thebit stored in the printing position register 14 at this time isindicated in FIG. 4E.

When the printing head takes the above-mentioned position, the printingcontrol circuit 36 generates an output signal II upon receipt of anoutput reset signal from the flip-flop circuit 38. Said output signal IIis supplied as a gate signal to the AND circuit 33. On the other hand,the foremost order readout circuit 32 is stored with a signal denotingthe first digit 1 of the input data 145 drawn out from the bufferregister 11. When, therefore, the AND circuit 33 is gated by the signalII, a signal instructing the printing of the first digit 1 is deliveredto the printing section 12, causing the printing control circuit 36gives forth an output signal IV, which in turn is deliveredto the ANDcircuits 41 and 42. In the stage of FIG. 4F, however, coincidence doesnot occur between the position of the bit stored in the printingposition register 14 and that of the bit stored in the tabset register13. Accordingly, the holding circuit43 produces an output signal of 0and the AND circuit 41 gives forth an output signal S13 by the action ofthe inverter 44, causing the printing con.- trol circuit 36 to generateoutput signals II, III and IV again in succession. When the signal II isdelivered to the AND circuit 33, then a signal denoting the second digit4 of the input data of is supplied to the printing section 12, causingthe digit 4 to be printed immediately after the previously impresseddigit 1.

When the printing head is shifted by the signal III further rightwardfor a distance of one order, then the bit stored in the printingposition register 14 also advances rightward similarly for a distance ofone order as shown in FIG. 46. Since, under this condition, coincidencedoes not take place between the position of the bit stored in the tabsetregister 13 and that of the bit stored in the printing position register14, the printing control.

circuit 36 gives forth output signals II, III and IVin turn upon receiptof an output signal S13. At this time, the last digit 5 of the inputdata 145 already storedin the foremost order readout circuit 32 is drawnoutby the signal II for printing. After the printing of the digit 5, thesignal III further shifts the printing head by one order, causing thebit stored in the printing position register 14 to be brought to theposition indicated in FIG.

4H. At this point, the position of the bit stored in the printingposition register 14 coincides with that of the bit stored in the tabsetposition 20 of the tabset register 13. Accordingly, the flipflop circuit23 is set, and an output signal IV from the printing control circuit 36coincides with an output signal from the holding circuit 43, causing theAND circuit 42 to generate an output signal, which in turn istransmitted as a printing end signal S14 to the OR circuit 27 and theAND circuit 30 through the inverter 31. When the AND circuit 30 producesan output signal of 0, the data stored in the tabset control register 15is extinguished and the gate of the AND circuit 26 is opened to cause asignal denotingthe tabset position 30 following the tabset position 20(said tabset position 30 represents the lower order tabset position ofthe second column C2 of FIG. 4.) to be written in the tabset controlregister 15 (FIG. 41), thus providing a condition ready for printing inthe second column C2. In this case, the first output signal S9 from thediscriminator 16 is in the state of I.

There will now be described the case where a charactercontaining data,for example, AS-8D indicated in FIG. 3 is printed in the secondcolumn C2defined between the tabset positions 20 and 30. When the subject controldevice'is supplied with said data AS-SD by operation of the keyboard 10,the data is stored in the buffer register 11 and also conducted to thediscriminator 16, wherein at least one of the bits occupying the fifthand sixth orders included in the codes representing the characters is 1,thus resulting in signal S11 (an output from the bit detector 34)= l,S9=0 and Sl=l (FIG. 2A). Printing is progressively carried out by thesignals I, II, III and IV delivered from the printing control circuit 36through tab operation of the keyboard in substantially the same manneras in the printing of the numerical data 145. The only difference isthat the printing of the character-containing data is commenced from theside of the tabset position (FIG. 3). Following is the reason. Thoughstored with bits at points corresponding to the respective orders of theinput data AS-SD, the tabset control register 15 does not take part incontrolling the position where the character-containing data is to beprinted, because the flip-flop circuit 38 remains in a reset state(Q=0). To describe in detail, when the tab operation is conducted afterintroduction of the input data AS-8D, then the printing control circuit36 produces a signal I, which effects the one-order rightward advance ofthe printing head, as well as of the bit registered in the printingposition register 14. Since the flip-flop circuit 38 is not set asdescribed above, the printing head is made to advance only for adistance of one order but not continuously. Upon the one-order shift ofthe printing head, the printing control circuit 36 generates an outputII which causes the character A of the foremost order read out from thebuffer register 11 by the foremost order readout circuit 32 to beprinted. Thereafter, upon receipt of an output signal III, the printinghead further advances rightward by one order. When the printing controlcircuit 36 produces an output signal IV; the holding circuit 43generates an output signal of 0. Consequently said printing controlcircuit 36 gives forth again an output signal II to cause the characterS to be printed immediately after the character A. Printing is thuscontinued until the final character D is impressed. In this case, theprinting control circuit 36 repeatedly generates the signals II, III andIV until an output signal from the holding circuit 43 indicates thestate of l causing the printing head to travel rightward stepwise,namely, by one order each time. Upon completion of printing, theprinting section 12 is not supplied with any other fresh input data.When, therefore, the printing head reaches the lower order tabsetposition 30, a printing end signal S14 is issued to stop the printinghead, and the flip-flop circuit 35 of the discriminator 16 is reset,thus providing a condition ready for printing in the third column C3.

The foregoining embodiment relates to the case where the position inwhich the foremost order of an input data was to be printed was definedby storing the tabset control register 15 with additional bitscorresponding to the number of orders of the input data at a higherorder point than, namely, on the left side of the bit already storedtherein. However, the abovementioned operation may be replaced simply byshifting the bit stored in the tabset control register 15 to a higherorder position. Further, the tabset control register 15 may besubstituted by a counter. The subject control device may be directlysupplied with data obtained from a computer without using a keyboard.This invention may be practised using a counter instead of the printingposition register 14.

While the printing head itself was shifted in the foregoing embodiment,it is obviously possible to fix the printing head and instead move aprinting sheet.

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for tabulation printing comprising an input means ofa printing data; a memory device for temporarily storing a printing datasupplied by the input means; a printing means for printing thetemporarily stored data in the designated column of a printing sheet; atabset register for storing a plurality of tabset position signalsdefining the columns of the printing sheet; a discriminator forgenerating a first signal where the printing data only consists ofdigits and a second signal where the printing data includes at least acharacter; a means for reading out a signal denoting the lower ordertabset position of the designated column from the tabset register andgenerating a signal designating the position where the foremost order ofthe temporarily stored data is to be printed, with reference to thereadout signal and a signal denoting the number of orders of theprinting data; a control means for controlling the printing means withreference to the first signal and a signal designating the printingposition of the foremost order such that where the input data onlyconsists of digits, the highest order digit is impressed in the foremostprinting position of the designated column of the printing sheet andzthelowest order digit in the lower tabset position side of said column; anda control means for controlling the printing means with reference to thesecond signal such that where the input data includes at least acharacter, the printing of said data is commenced from the higher ordertabset position side of the designated column of the printing sheet. l

1. A control device for tabulation printing comprising an input means ofa printing data; a memory device for temporarily storing a printing datasupplied by the input means; a printing means for printing thetemporarily stored data in the designated column of a printing sheet; atabset register for storing a plurality of tabset position signalsdefining the columns of the printing sheet; a discriminator forgenerating a first signal where the printing data only consists ofdigits and a second signal where the printing data includes at least acharacter; a means for reading out a signal denoting the lower ordertabset position of the designated column from the tabset register andgenerating a signal designating the position where the foremost order ofthe temporarily stored data is to be printed, with reference to thereadout signal and a signal denoting the number of orders of theprinting data; a control means for controlling the printing means withreference to the first signal and a signal designating the printingposition of the foremost order such that where the input data onlyconsists of diGits, the highest order digit is impressed in the foremostprinting position of the designated column of the printing sheet and thelowest order digit in the lower tabset position side of said column; anda control means for controlling the printing means with reference to thesecond signal such that where the input data includes at least acharacter, the printing of said data is commenced from the higher ordertabset position side of the designated column of the printing sheet.